Accra floods: NADMO, Zoomlion launch multi-site drain clearing exercise

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited and other agencies, on Wednesday, July 1, intensified its flood preparedness efforts with a large-scale drain-clearing exercise at multiple flood-prone locations across the Greater Accra Region. The exercise forms part of the ongoing 12-week "No Do No Do" campaign, launched last month to promote environmental responsibility, strengthen flood preparedness, and complement public education with practical action. Dennis Nartey, the Greater Accra Regional Director of NADMO, explained the importance of the campaign, stating, "The campaign was introduced in response to the growing impact of poor waste disposal on flooding across the region."

Mr. Nartey noted that swift post-flood interventions are critical to prevent blocked drains from worsening the effects of future rains. He added that after every heavy downpour, NADMO conducts post-flood assessments to identify clogged drains before deploying teams to clear them. The day's exercise began at the Okponglo stretch and was carried out simultaneously at about six flood-prone locations, including Tema East, Tema West, Alajo, Santa Maria, and Ablekuma. Ernest Morgan Acquah, the Greater Accra General Manager for Zoomlion Ghana Limited, stated the company joined the exercise to help clear large volumes of waste and debris, aiming to minimize public health risks and ensure drainage systems are cleared ahead of any further rainfall.